Star attraction

MANAGER David Moyes insists his transfer targets will still want to come to Manchester United even though he can’t offer Champions League football.

United crashed out of Europe’s top club competition with a 4–2 aggregate defeat to Bayern Munich last night. With United seven points adrift of the top four with five matches left, their chances of qualifying for next season’s tournament through the Premier League are slim.

But Moyes is confident the lure of playing for such a historically successful club will be enough to persuade top players to come to Old Trafford.

“My focus is on getting a side together to get back into the Champions League,” the United manager said. “Any players we’ve discussed it with are more than happy to join Manchester United. They know it’s not a long–term thing.”

The need for reinforcements in defence became clear at the Allianz Arena when United conceded less than a minute after taking the lead through Patrice Evra’s stunning finish.

Moyes’ task was not helped by two glaring misses from Wayne Rooney, who played with a pain–killing injection in his injured toe.